﻿Capsicum annuum
Family: Solanaceae nightshade, includes all peppers, tomato, and eggplant.
All peppers have medicinal properties but cayenne seems to have the strongest properties and what is used the most for medicinal purposes.

Properties

stimulant

astringent

hemostatic (stop internal bleeding or hemorrhaging)

carminative (aid digestion)

anti-tumor

anti-catarrhal (eliminate excessive mucous)

rubefacient (stimulate and increase blood flow)

analgesic (pain reliever)

antispasmodic (suppresses muscle spasms)

antibacterial

anti-ulcer

anti-microbial (kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth)

thermogenic (produces heat)

styptic (stops external bleeding)

Medicinal Uses

Circulation stimulant, warms body and extremities.

Heart attack/Stroke (give victim 1 tsp. powder mixed with 1 cupwarmwater or dropperful of tincture under tongue-this is great to have in an emergency first aid kit)

Heart tonic (supports arteries, blood vessels and heart)

Rebuilds vein structures and removes plaque from veins

Prevents blood clots, keeps blood flowing freely through the veins

Lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels, reducing heart disease

Hemorrhage

Digestive aid

Diarrhea related to infection

Arthritis, muscles and joints (internal and external)

Cramps and menstrual pain

Sprains and strains

Ulcers

Asthma

Pain reliever (use topically)

Relieves the muscle pain and tenderness caused by fibromyalgia.

Relieves pain associated with shingles, chicken pox, and herpes.

Relieves the pain and itchiness associated with psoriasis and eczema.

Headaches

Cold and flu

Sore throat, respiratory congestion, tonsillitis, laryngitis

Oral health to prevent and heal dental issues

Not medicinal but cayenne is used for self defense in pepper sprays and also for pest control in the garden.

Just a quick reminder here that cayenne is a hot pepper, therefore it is hot. Be mindful of this when using any of the methods below.

In the Garden

Cayenne likes a bright, sunny and warm location.

Transplant into full sun after the last frost.

Prefers dry soil, requires little water.

Plant next to basil and cilantro, but stay away from sweet peppers, it will make them hot.

Use gloves when picking, pick the fruit when it is bright red.

For dehydrating and making powder, wash with warm water and dry completely. Remove stems (keeping those gloves on) and slice in half. Place on dehydrator tray and set the temp. between 135 – 145 for 8-12 hours. I have also dried the entire pepper and once dried pull off the stem, either way works.

Caution

This is a perfectly safe herb but can be hot! Use appropriate dosages and watch for skin irritation. Not recommended for children under two and in small amounts for older children. Be careful when handling cayenne, it will burn, gloves are always recommended.

When I first started my herbal journey and read about how wonderful cayenne was, my poor husband suffered the consequences. When a hatchet fell from a shelf in our garage (I have no idea who left it sitting on a shelf rather than in the tool box) and cut his head, I immediately grabbed my cayenne powder and sprinkled away. It stopped the bleeding instantly alright but he was in so much agony from the burning he said he would rather have bled to death. And then there were the cayenne capsules for the prevention of heart disease, since it runs in his family. He is always up for taking something in a capsule form so he took my recommended dose of three capsules of solid cayenne and ended up with severe heartburn. Oops, maybe I should've mixed the cayenne with other heart health herbs rather than giving them straight up. My point is to be careful when using this amazing herb, after all, it is a hot pepper. Start with small amounts and work up to the recommended amounts if needed.

Recipes

Pain Salve for Arthritis and Muscle Pain

Heart Health Herbal Capsules

Soothing Throat Coat

Hot pepper pest control spray from Old World Garden Farms

Where to get good quality cayenne?

I would not rely on the grocery store cayenne to be very potent, let alone who knows where it was grown and what chemicals may have been used in growing it. I would either grow it fresh in my garden or order from a high quality herb store, I do both. Mountain Rose Herbs and Bulk Herb Store both carry fresh, high quality, organic or wild harvested herbs.

Oh, our poor husbands when we practice on them! Rather of bled to death… I am sorry to say but you gave me a good chuckle this morning! I am glad to hear that all came out well though! We had a similar situation with pure oregano oil (always dilute that stuff too!)...

I'm growing cayenne for the first time this year, so I appreciate your growing tips! Thank you for sharing this at the HomeAcre Hop; I hope you'll join us again this Thursday.
<a href="http://www.oakhillhomestead.com/">Kathi at Oak Hill Homestead</a>

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Learn principles of peace from the Prince of Peace

I’m Annie, a Mother of Influence and Master Herbalist. Welcome to my place where I share what I have learned of natural and frugal living, healthy eating and living, gardening, homeschooling,herbal crafting, preparing temporally and spiritually, and love for God and Country.